Brave New Worlds

Once we'd turned onto the surface streets, Johnnie engaged the auto-drive and leaned back in his seat. 'I thought you said you wanted to drive?'

'I lied. I just wanted to talk to you without a speaker. '

My good mood evaporated. 'Do we have to do this now?'

'Did you know,' he asked without acknowledging my question, 'that in the four cases where a mother has died in childbirth over the last ten years, the flag option had been available in every case?'

My stomach turned. 'So? that doesn't mean—'

'No, no, it doesn't mean—'

'So why are you bringing this up?' I asked. 'Don't you think I'm frightened enough already?'

Johnnie leaned closer to me. 'But it doesn't mean it isn't possible, either. We've got to consider it. '

'It could also mean that our son will have a learning disability, and we'll have to work particularly hard to get him through it. ' My cheeks were burning. I understood his concern, but I couldn't believe he was going to ruin our first night out together in ages.

He crossed his arms. 'And it could mean you're in danger. How are we supposed to know? Who's to say the child actually needs us to be a ten?'

'We can't know. Knowledge of future events can change the outcome. He's a ten. that's all that's important. '

'Bullshit. '

My jaw dropped.

'That's not all that's important by a long-shot. '

'Of course it is. ' Instinct made me look around to see that no one was in the car with us. 'You don't interfere with something like that. It's almost treasonous. '

'Of course it isn't treasonous. The State wouldn't have given us the flag otherwise. It's our right. '

My eyes filled with tears. 'But he's going to be a ten. He's going to be a perfect little boy. '

'Yes, he will,' Johnnie replied, taking my hand in his. He brushed a tear from my cheek and added, 'But perfect for who?'

I knew we weren't going to the opera even before we sped past the turn-off to the Cultural District, but it didn't get any easier once we were sitting inside Dr. Jones' office, waiting for him to finish his examination. 'Well,' he said, looking down at me from over the edge of his bifocals, 'there's no genetic contra indicators, no signs of pre-toxemia, no anemia, nothing that would give me even a moment's hesitation about your health or that of your child. ' He seemed tired and his thin, grey hair puffed up more on one side of his head than the other.

Johnnie ran his fingers through his hair. 'I just don't get it. '

'Maybe it's not for us to get,' I offered. 'But there's nothing wrong with me. I'm not in any danger so we can stop worrying—'

'That doesn't mean that something couldn't show up later though, right?'

'Johnnie, I—'

'Nothing is certain, sir,' Dr. Jones replied.

'Johnnie!' I grabbed his wrist and clamped down. He whipped his head around to look at me, and that's when I finally saw it: He was terrified. Sweat beaded his upper lip and he couldn't keep his eyes on any one thing.

'But it's still your choice,' Dr. Jones said. 'No one is going to stop you from choosing to exercise your option. The flag is there for a purpose. '

I stared Johnnie in the eye, hoping he'd notice the slight side-to-side shake I was giving him.

'I think we should use the flag,' he said.

My skin froze. 'No,' I whispered.

'There will be other babies,' he said. 'Ones without a flag. We don't need the raises. I can't stand the thought of losing you. Tell her she can have other babies, Doctor. '

'Of course you can have other babies,' Dr. Jones said, 'but let's not overlook—'

'Why should we have to make a sacrifice?' Johnnie asked, kneeling down in front of me. 'We've been given the option. There wouldn't be a flag if there wasn't a problem. You know that. '

I tried to speak, but nothing came out of my mouth. He was right. There was something wrong; some kind of difficulty we'd have to face if we had this baby. Difficulties we most likely wouldn't have to face with another baby. But this one was a ten! He could be a great composer or an artist. He could discover medicine that cured the last remaining diseases. He could do anything! I knew That, felt it with every beat of my heart.

The State knew that too.

But what was the cost?

I looked at Johnnie and felt very cold.

'I can't make this decision,' I said. I pulled him in close and rested my cheek against his and whispered in his ear. 'You make it. Make it for both of us. '

He kissed my temple, then my cheek, then my ear. His warm breath caught in his throat. He pulled away, turned to Dr. Jones and said, 'We'll take the option. '

What little air remained in my chest rushed out of me. The room spun.

'Very well,' Dr. Jones said. He removed a gown from a drawer beneath the examination table and handed it me. 'I'll give you a moment to get ready,' he said, and left the room.

We didn't talk. I changed into the dressing gown and sat back up on the table. The longer we sat, waiting, the smaller the room seemed to get. I wanted Johnnie to say something; anything, but he just sat there, trying his best to smile when I looked at him.

After a few minutes, Dr. Jones re-joined us. He wasn't alone.

Mr. White from Human Services stood in the doorway, flanked by a half dozen Constables. 'that will be all, Doctor. '

Johnnie stepped in front of me. 'What are you doing? this is our decision. '

'And you made it,' Mr. White said. He appeared even smaller out from behind his desk.

Johnnie shook his head and held his arms to the side, trying in vain to shield me from the Constables. 'You said you wouldn't interfere. '

Mr. White smiled. 'We didn't. We allowed you to make your decision of your own free will. ' He stepped inside the door and removed a stun-gun from behind his back. 'No one ever said we'd let you go through with it, though. The flag is an option, not a right. Arrest him. '

The Constables fell on him them. Johnnie tried to resist, but one kick in the stomach was all it took to end that. Within ten seconds they had him out of the room, leaving only myself and Mr. White. 'Go ahead and get changed,' he said. 'I'll wait for you outside. '

I dressed slowly. It was as if every memory I had of Johnnie came back to me right then. The dates, our wedding, the fights, the make-ups; all of it. I'd just stood there and let them take him. I wanted to cry, but held it back. Whatever happened to us, I'd be strong. I pulled my shoulders back and opened the door.

Mr. White was waiting for me. He was still alone. 'We understand this wasn't your choice. That's correct, isn't it?'

My flesh raised with a sudden chill. 'that's right. '

'Good,' he said, lips drawn tight and thin with his smile.

'What's going to happen to Johnnie?'

Mr. White offered me his hand and helped me step down from the examination table. 'He'll be reduced to a one or two, of course. Put to manual labor. If he keeps himself clean, he could even work back up to a four or five. '

I knew Johnnie wouldn't want me to live that way.

'Of course your marriage is annulled. You're free to choose whomever you'd like to replace him from the other eights or nines. '

'Replace him?'

Mr. White grimaced. 'I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm not terribly good with certain social graces. Please forgive me. Of course you'll want to take some time to yourself. But when you're ready, choose who you will. '

By the time we walked outside, the Constables had Johnnie packed into a separate transport and were